Play with high key and low key

High-key images are lighter, have fewer shadows and less contrast. You may think high key only refers to shots that have a white background, but it means the image is mostly brighter and lacks dark shadows. Similarly, low key doesn’t mean the entire image has to be dark or underexposed, but it will include darker tones, more shadow and increased contrast. I’m more drawn towards low-key shots, because of the dramatic and moody effect this style of lighting creates. If you want to shoot high-key images, use a bright light source, like the midday sun, and use a reflector to fill in the harsh shadows. For low-key shots, soft, late-afternoon light can work perfectly.

Below left: The autumnal tones, tattered leaf and powerful lighting clearly convey a narrative that centres around rebirth.

Below right: The viewer is immediately drawn to the warm glow of the stars and umbrella, rather than the blue hues that surround them. This is because warm colours are much more dominant than cool ones.

greens and purples. These cooler tones are associated with the sky, ocean and forests. You can create visual depth in an image by using dominant and passive colour combinations.

That’s not to say there are fixed rules when it comes to colour or any colour schemes that are better or worse than others. However, these basic guidelines will help you get started when you’re visualizing an image. When you’re coming up with an image, try deciding what mood you want to convey first and move forward from there.

CREATE DRAMATIC LIGHT

The key to taking a great photograph is learning how light works. A dramatic use of light can turn something mundane and simple into something extraordinary and telling. After all,